Sunday letters

Dev Anand was the people's guideKaran Thapar's article I played the guide (Sunday Sentiments, December 11) about how he developed a long-lasting friendship with Dev Anand made for an interesting read. Dev Anand's optimism, candidness and zest for life gave his acting a different dimension that will continue to inspire future generations. Subhash Shukla, Mathura

III envy Thapar for getting to play guide to Dev Anand, who was a guide to everyone. The evergreen hero left a lasting impression on our lives. His positive energy, zest for life and never-say-die attitude is the legacy he left for his fans. Dev Anand will continue to live in our collective memories forever.J Chellappa, via email

A centre that cannot holdThe article Is anybody home? (Chanakya, December 11) is right in stating that the art of consensus-building does not exist in the UPA. The decision on raising foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail was taken in the Union cabinet and the UPA's allies had no moral right to oppose it in public or Parliament. The opposition by Trinamool Congress and others is political and has nothing to do with policies.Ajay Kumar, via email

IIThe Congress has been in power for so long that it cannot differentiate between running its own government and a coalition government. Arrogance and negligence are not good traits in a ruling party. The Congress goofed up on FDI in retail because of its poor presentation and lack of consensus. It has not been able to put its house in order or bridge the gap with the Opposition parties.Bal Govind, Noida

IIIIt is clear that there is lack of trust and coordination not only within the UPA but also between the government and the Congress. The government's flip-flop, be it on the issue of FDI in retail, the lokpal and other legislative business in Parliament suggests a weakness in policy-making. Avtar Singh, Delhi

A uniform lack of humourWith reference to Indrajit Hazra's article At ease, soldier (Red Herring, December 11), drawing a parallel among the soldiers and Saraswati, Sita or Hanuman is a crass attempt to use religion to prove a point. The Yanks, even when they poke fun at soldiers, do not depict their death. The writer should take his grudge against Menon elsewhere.Prashant Pandit, via email

III saw the ad after reading Hazra's arguments on behalf of freedom of artistic expression. I don't know if the snack is good enough to die for, but the ad is not in good taste. Art is only part of an advertising process that, in the end, has to make money. Bollywood movies like Shola aur Shabnam and Hum have characters from military backgrounds who are goofy, even despicable. Just as an artiste has the freedom of expression, the rest of humanity has the right to condemn.Shahzad Zaman, Lucknow

A platform to shareThis refers to Sharon Fernandes' article Online @ India (The Big Story, December 11). The government had planned to censor the contents on the internet. But the government has no locus standi regarding restrictions on the internet, as these are meant for people to exchange personal views. Mahesh Kapasi, Delhi

Not an easy brew Manas Chakravarty in Sip through this (Loose Canon, December 11) correctly, and humorously, uses a somewhat trivial object like coffee to illustrate the complexities involved in bringing about reform in the Indian democratic set-up.Kushagra Alankar, via email